WESTERN Province has recorded the highest progression rate of 99.85 per cent in the grade seven examination results. And Luapula Province has recorded a 100 per cent pass rate for girls. Education minister Dr John Phiri announced in Parliament yesterday that 299, 710 pupils out of the 332, 953 who sat for the examination this year have been selected to grade eight. He said the results represent a national progression rate of 90.02 per cent, up from the 89.36 per cent recorded last year. Dr Phiri said out of the 299, 710 pupils who have been selected to grade eight, 152, 985 were boys and 146, 725 girls. “The highest progression rates were recorded in Western Province at 99.85 per cent, while the lowest progression rates were recorded in Lusaka Province at 75.14 per cent,” he said. “Luapula Province recorded a 100 per cent progression rate for girls.” He said the examination was incident free and the results have been timely released, with no cases of examination malpractices reported. Dr Phiri also announced that grade eight classes would open on January 12, 2015 with a grace period of two weeks. “Schools across the country will begin to issue the 2014 grade seven composite Examination Results by Friday, 28th November. However, parents, guardians and learners who wish to know the results before collecting their official statements of results from their school may use the SMS Result Release System (SRRS) offered by the Examination Council of Zambia,” he said. “The facility is currently only available to Zamtel subscribers.” Meanwhile, Mwandi MMD member of parliament Michael Kaingu commended the government on the good results and their early release. “It is unprecedented for the government to perform in this manner,” said Kaingu. But Kabompo West UPND member of parliament Ambrose Lufuma said the candidate absenteeism rates were still high despite the reduction. Out of the 367, 967 candidates that entered the 2014 grade seven examination, 35, 014 candidates were absent, reflecting a 9.25 per cent absenteeism rate. The absenteeism rate last year stood at 11.3 per cent. “We can’t apportion any single factor behind absenteeism,” Dr Phiri said, adding that early marriages and multiplicity in registration could not be ruled out. He also revealed that the picture in terms of schools performance had not changed much from last year. “The private schools topped the performance, followed by aided schools and community schools. Government schools were last,” said Dr Phiri, in response to a question from Chadiza MMD member of parliament, Allan Mbewe.
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